By VOON MIAW PING
KUALA LUMPUR: Pawel Poterski and Joanna Poterska have been bitten by the travel bug for as long as they can remember.
The Polish couple had made a pact to travel the world together after they met and decided to combine their passion for travelling and his love for classic cars to make it a memorable one.
“We thought, why not we combine our love for travel and my passion for classic cars on this trip of a lifetime. And that was how the whole idea was born,” said the 34-year-old Pawel.
Pawel, an architect by profession who married Joanna, 28, in July last year, said the tour has also strengthened the relationship between them.
The pair were interviewed by Bernama International News Service during their Kuala Lumpur stopover recently.
Pawel added that their vehicle of choice – a refurbished Polski Fiat 125p – is a classic Polish-made car which also became the pride of the Polish populace.
“When we decided to take on the journey, we thought it would be best to choose the Polski Fiat 125p, a classic car that is very well known in Poland. Many people have very fond memories of the car,” he said.
The model was manufactured in Poland in 1967, and at least 1.5 million units were made until it ceased production in 1991.
Pawel said the car used for the journey was produced in 1990 – among the last being manufactured – adding to the trip’s significance.
Joanna said that they talked about the excursion since 2016, and it was only in July 2018 that the idea took off.
“We quit our jobs, saved some money and started to prepare for the trip, doing research, google the routes and such.
“We started the journey from Poland in November 2018 and six months later, here we are, in Malaysia!” said Joanna, who had worked as a dietician prior to the trip.
To date, they visited 14 countries – Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia – covering up to 24,000 km so far.
They arrived in Malaysia on April 14 from Thailand, where they headed to Penang before making their way to Kuala Lumpur.
From here, the adventurous couple travelled to Singapore and Bali for a short break while their car is serviced in Kuala Lumpur in preparation for shipping to Canada in mid-May.
From Canada, they will drive to the United States. The car will then be moved to Portugal where they will continue the last leg of their journey in Europe before reaching home.
“We expect to travel to another 12 or 14 countries before reaching Poland in November this year. If we complete this journey, we will become the first couple to travel the world in a classic Polski Fiat 125p,” he said, adding that the whole journey is expected to cost $30,000.
Pawel said the journey had been an enriching as well as a humbling experience, adding that overland travel is also the best way to see the world to experience stunning landscapes along the way, as well as to interact and learn about the rich cultures of the locals.
“I would say that 95 per cent of the people in the world are very friendly and very helpful. I can say it is very safe to travel by car cross country. You will find that the world is a very friendly place. So, you have to have very bad luck to have something bad happen to you,” he said.
He also shared their experience in Pakistan, and noted that the country was not as unsafe as perceived.
“Everyone is friendly, that is quite surprising. You may find it hard to travel by car at first but if you have a problem, no worry, people will help you,” he said.
He singled out road conditions, especially in the developing countries, as the biggest challenge for overland travel. He also said settling the paperwork for the border crossing into another country can be tough, depending on a particular country’s requirements.
To a question on what the duo’s plans are upon the journey’s completion, Pawel said: “To start a family!”. – Bernama
